May 2026 Round-Up: Festivals, Live Music and New Connections
May has been one of the busiest and most rewarding months of the year so far, packed with live performances, festival appearances and opportunities to connect with music lovers across the UK.
As an independent UK country singer-songwriter, one of my favourite parts of this journey is seeing where the music takes me. This month brought everything from festival stages and songwriting conversations to new friendships within the country music community.
Playing In It Together Festival
One of the highlights of May was performing at Playing It Together Festival on the Ranch Stage. It was an incredible experience to be part of such a large event and share the line-up with so many talented artists.
The scale of the festival was genuinely impressive, and performing on the same day as iconic headliners Madness made the experience even more memorable. Opportunities like these are a reminder of how fortunate I am to be building a career in live music and reaching new audiences through festivals.
Road to Lakefest Semi-Final
May also saw me take part in the semi-final of the Road to Lakefest competition.
The week leading up to the performance was far from straightforward, with illness affecting both myself and members of my band. Despite the challenges, I made it to the stage and delivered the performance solo.
Competitions like Road to Lakefest are a fantastic opportunity for emerging artists to showcase original music and connect with new listeners, and I was grateful to be part of it.
Buckle & Boots Festival
Although I wasn't performing at Buckle & Boots Festival this year, attending as a fan was a reminder of why I love the UK country music scene.
The weekend was filled with outstanding performances, opportunities to support friends, discover new artists and build new relationships within the industry. Festivals like Buckle & Boots continue to play an important role in growing country music in the UK and creating a welcoming community for artists and fans alike.
There was also some excellent food, plenty of sunshine and more than a few adorable dogs wandering around the festival site.
New Music Announcement
One of the biggest milestones this month was announcing the release of my third single.
Bringing new music into the world is always exciting, but this release feels particularly special. Every song tells a different chapter of the story, and it's been wonderful to see the support and enthusiasm from listeners as I've shared more about what's coming next.
As an independent artist, there's so much that happens behind the scenes before a song reaches your playlists—from writing and recording to planning releases and creating content. Being able to finally share news of the upcoming single made all those months of work feel very real.
I can't wait for you to hear it.
If you've been following my journey from the beginning, thank you for continuing to support my original music. And if you've only recently discovered my music, I hope this new release gives you a glimpse into what I'm all about as a country-pop singer-songwriter.
Looking Ahead
With festival season now in full swing and new music on the horizon, June is already shaping up to be another exciting month.
There are more live performances, festival appearances and behind-the-scenes projects in the works, along with preparations for the release of my third single. While I can't reveal everything just yet, there are some exciting announcements coming soon that I'm looking forward to sharing.
It's an incredibly busy season, but it's also the reason I do what I do. Whether it's performing live, writing songs or connecting with audiences across the UK, I'm grateful for every opportunity to keep building this journey.
Thank you for being part of it.
